The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1887-08-11

ing WIN tnem Win INC Impression
that I had been guilty Of an odious
crime--at least to myself-in leaving
the Pacific coast without having made
the acquaintance of our Polar annex.
In these days of wondrous progress
not even the trip to Alaska amounts to
anything as feat of enterprise, courage
or discomfort overcome. You 60 to
Alaska precisely as you make the journey
from Boston to New York by the Fall
River line or as you go up the Hudson
river. It is nothing like so serious an
undertaking as a voyage to Europe by
the best steamer on the finest line, nor
does 1t compare with trip on the great
lakes so far as danger or discomfort is
concerned. The route to Alaska from
Portland, Ore, is an inland or river voy-
age to all intents and purposes, because
the line of travel lies between the coast
and chain of islands that form 80 per-
feet breakwater that the passengers
who made the trip during June of this
year, and others who made it in July last
year, tell me they did not feel any swell
and that the ladies on board were not
once subjected to nausea. These are the
best months for the voyage, not alone
because Of the quietness of the water
lin any month there is only possibility
of rough water in crossing little open.
ing on the side Of Charlottes sound
above Vancouver's island), but in the
other months one needs an umbrella and
Macintosh, for old Jupiter Pluvious
seems to live in Alaska most of the time
and spends his days there in weeping
copiously. Or, perhaps it is Alaska that
weeps at having him there; lam not sure
about anything except the dampness.
The steamers leave San Francisco weekly,
but can be met with and boarded from
Portland, Tacoma, Port Townsend or
Victoria-the first two and the last of
which no one who isinterestedi in Western
growth and progress should on any &C.
count miss seeing. The trip consumes
eleven days from San Francisco and
return, and the fafesis $3.50, or 800 from
Tacoma and e95 from Victoria. As the
boats are modern steamships and one Of
them, at least, has electric lights and all
other appointments In conformity there
with, and as Ill ones meals are had
aboard ship, there d no need to quarrel
with the moo Of locomotion.
It seems to be generally agreed and
conceded that NO other tour so easily
made offers 90 much novelty, grandeur
and beauty Of scenery and experiences
- this. So was told by men fresh from
there who had ''done' the Alps and
India and Africa, and even the coast o.
Norway, which this Alaska series OF
views most nearly resembles. The eli
mate is warmer than that of Idaho or
Montana, which ID to say that it ID de-
Nghtful and ALMOST Californian in the
summer months, and the steamers way
winds past the most beautiful islands,
rising abruptly from the sea, sometimes
to grand mountain heights, snow-clad on
top and glistening in the sun, and richly
clothed beneath with such verdure as
only moist climate can produce. Now
the vessel seems almost to squeeze its
way through narrow pass and next
the path broadens into wide estuary ell
dotted with islands, like but far grander
than the famous archipelago of the St.
Lawrence. Here and there are seen gla-
ciers that make the frozen rivers Of the
Alps seem pretty-great folds of blue OF
green ice leading down from he snow
capped mountain fastnesses in cloudland
to seaside cliffs over the edges of which
their loosened fragments are continually
tumbling into the water with thunder
and crash that impress the spectator sub.
timely. These glacier-bits are often great
icebergs when they reach the water and
your ship 10 sometimes surrounded by
them. The mountains ON which the
| glaciers creep slowly yet forever to.
| ward the sea are among the peaks that
show themselves TO the Inhabitants Of the
moon, II the astronomers are right In
thinking that any Of the details Of 0ul
planet make themselves seen there, fol
Mounts La Pereuse and Litpys ars
| each 10000 feet high, Mount Crillon lo,
| 900 feet. and Mount .6t. Elias ID %, ,O0(
feet higher than the sea level. At ella
| ciey bay the tourists are allowed to dis
enberk and ascend the great Muir Gla
~, one Of the largest known. The ehiT
eond moor beneslh ~ eaess where 4
honGo ohoyo the - ~ ~ tho fto
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